New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-03
BIRDS IN THEIR NESTS.
BITS OF NATURE GROUPED IN TIL
MUSEUM.
HOW COLLECTIONS OF NATIVE BIRDS WERE Oh
Tanned FOR GENITAL PAX.


HOW COLLECTIONS OF NATIVE BIRDS WERE Oh
TANNED FOR CENTRAL PA2K.
In the exhibit Of the Museum OF Natural his'orS
this summer arc eighteen groups OF birds which maxi
their homes portion Of the year In tho CITY OF
within fifty miles OF Ncw-York Some OF thcm are
to be found In Central Park. Others were taken Oh
tho hills or along tho coast OF Long lsland most
them from westchcster County, but several oil the
ra-er croups arc only to be found In tho marsh"s
and deeper woods OF New-Jersey. The most interest
inc feature of groups is that they do not Simply
represent stuffed birds under glass case bne III eaeh
instance the bird is preserved in lifoke attitude
and its nest eggs young birds, and the tree VI
moss amid which its homo was MADE are reProuuoo"
In examining them has before him not picture
but a scrap OF nature itself. In one instance ina
OF tho aeld-sparrow the birls have built their hom
on a bog in the long grass by the side of running
stream part of the bog was brought away
bodily and with 1t tho imprint OF cows moor c'os'
beside the nest which the animal narrowly nilsson
crushing when she camc down to the stream 10
drink.
These oighteen groups Of birds arc said TO 90 inc
first that been prepared in the manner descrioe
for any museum in this country. In one OF tno
English museums Morris X. Jesup. president OF the
museum saw a largo collection Of them few years
ago. Mrs. Robert L. Stuart whom he told about
them was so pleased with tho idea that she desired 10
have collection made OF tho birds In this ncighoor
hood Tho work OF securing tho birds ana pieparhs
them done by Jeannsss Richarson, the naturas''
who has charge OF thelabor'tory of the museum Inc
foliage which looks 80 real is reproduced from the
natural specimens by Mrs. f. S Mogridpc, who was
connected with the Kenslngton Museum In England.
but ia now engaged by the museum here. Mr.
Richardson ia an enthusiast In his work He knows
no heencr enjoyment than In searching out the home
OF some species to add to his collection During
the summer his vacation will be taken up In search
for ten moro groups TO add to the museum COLLECTION
"Huntinc for specimens" Mr.. Richardson said with
sparkle in his eye, "is the rarcst sport know OF
Especially when the specimens the smallest OF
all birds and it is particular species Of them that
you want At first thought 1t would seem quite
impossblc TO trace the humming birds you see fash
ing about tho honeysuckle home to their nests They
buzz and flash like meteor, and they are gone
Then there half dozen varieties OF sparrows
which 10 tho general observer all look alike, but here
arc several varieties In the groups have collected,
md when you look at them closely you will zee that
there IA a wide difference. OF course you don't
often get a chance 10 approach 30 near them when
they are alive and In the fields. The habits OF the
several species Just unlike az their appearance
One variety always makes its neat near the water
on the ground and another always under some over
hanging bank or in the roots OF an old tree.
ado you SEQ this pair with with the nest under
rather a rare bird in this section. but few OF then
got I'D hero along the coast every year. In the
winter they 60 down into the West Indies, Southern
Muxico and Central America. They are beautiful
singers but are not often heard because their homes
are always deep In tho woodland thickcs. where they
are not often intrudcd by human beings came
on this quito by accident and IL was long hunt
Of nearly week before found tho nest and secured
both the birds. l was looking for another kind OF
bird. tho rcd-brcasted grosbeak, that Is powerful
singer up In the new parks OF Westchester' when
heard tho male thrush singing. caught good
glimpse OF him and recognized what he was.
followed him distance and then lost him for the
day. Tho next day found him again and traceh
him down 10 little stream, but 1 could get no
further Glow TO him. For several days I brought
my lunch and sat down on tho bank and watched
the little fellow ! could have shot him any time,
but that wodi have done no good as wanted the
nest lie seemed 10 know Il and would allght on q
y,nnch almost within arms reach and sing win
all his might and then dart away out OF sight How
did get himi Why, at last j examined tho banh.
and right under tho very spot where had been
eating my luncheon was the nest hidden away. The
female was sitting on It with tho four white eggs
spotted with brown, ~ you SEQ. IL was easy 10
take the birds then, though felt 1t pity 20 do so
I cut out piece OF the bank, and thore II Is, the
genuine Wcstchester soil that you SEQ there"
ado you use a shotgun 10 secure the bnisF
than mustari seed, and light charge OF powder
Tho small birds like the phm)es or the wrens wOuhi
ho torn TO pieces by larger shot. When cannot
carry away the SURROUNDINGS OF the nest photograph
them and tike notes for their reproduction Ill the
laboratory IL Is quito easy 10 get the branch OF an
annIo treo DR. A doc wood which Mrs AOsridgo has
u,,do such lileliIe blossoms. The robins TOO, were
casy Ia get Those car4inais found in Central fark
and got "A permit to take them They ans very shy.
air OF them escaped In the park Tour or nNo years
ago and they remain there summer and winter There
arr about a dozen pairs Of them now. mat httc
fellow IL the oven-blrd, called from lts dome
ehaped nest built on tho ground, rooted over and
with an entrance side. That little brown
fellow singing 10 his mato Is tho Politician
found him up near Hartsdae, Wcstchcstcr, and there
was n lese Of THE TRIBUNE In his nest lie Rcts
his name from his habit OF picking up bits OF news
paper 10 weave In his nest In tho winter he goes
down 10 tho Gulf as far Guatemala. The largest
birds in tho group ap the chpper rails, Kind OF
snIpe I found them In the cOurso Of hunt down
on Long Island for tho seaside sparrow. You sec
reeds Tho nests only found out In the dense
salt marshes The bnis have litth Indian trails To
tho nests through the tall grass. but Il Is difficult 70
find them. They lay as many as Twelve crcimy
bun eggs Their barh Gathering notes give them
their name and they live III tho marshes summer
and winter. unit, all
:. These groups OF birds arc 10 be exhibition AL
summer and the number will be Increased "a fresh
addition arc secured. Professor Bickm0re. IN re-
ferrng 10 them recently sad that he regarded them
as tho most valuable adjuncts TO the study OF ths
branch OF natural history that the museum mas
secured for several year,